Journalist Tries to Buy AR-15, but It’s Not as Easy as He Thought

After every mass shooting, you’ll find politicians and journalists who are woefully ignorant about firearms, calling for more gun control. Then you’ll start hear a few stories in the news about journalist going out to buy “assault rifles” just to prove how easy it is to do in America. However, sometimes these timely anti-gun stories don’t go as planned.

Neil Steinberg, a journalist with the Chicago-Sun Times, recently attempted to buy a Smith & Wesson M&P AR-15 for his anti-gun hit piece. Since this was in Illinois he had to attain a Firearm’s Owners’ Identification Card, then fill out paperwork for a background check, and then wait 24 hours to pick up the firearm.

Unfortunately for Steinberg, this attempt to prove that firearms are just too easy to buy in America was a failure. During the background check it was discovered that he had a criminal record. According to the gun store, “It was uncovered that Mr. Steinberg has an admitted history of alcohol abuse, and a charge for domestic battery involving his wife.”

For some reason Steinberg went with the story anyway, despite the fact that it proves current laws are already restrictive for violent and irresponsible people, like himself. He played it off as if the gun store was out to get him because they knew he was a journalist doing a piece, and they didn’t want the bad publicity. “Would-be terrorists can buy guns. Insane people can buy guns. But reporters . . . that’s a different story.”